Temperature responsive counting device



April 1965 J. w. FARRELL ETAL 3,178,109

TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE COUNTING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1962 JOHN M.FARRELL and JAMES W. HEN/A058 WX W Attorney United States Patent3,178,109 TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE COUNTING DEVICE John W. Farrell, NorthTonawauda, N.Y., and James W. Heniades, Chicago, Ill., assignor toUnited States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed July25, 1962, Ser. No. 212,330 1 Claim. (Cl. 23591) This invention relatesgenerally to temperature responsive counting devices and has particularsignificance in counting devices adapted to register the number of timesingot molds or the like are used.

In studying the effect of various operating conditions upon ingot moldlife it is necessary to select a certain num ber of ingot molds andmaintain records pertaining to the use of these molds. In the past,these records have been maintained by around-the-clock observers whoobserve and register each use of the selected ingot mold. Because of thenecessity of human observation and recording a cert-ain amount of erroris inherent in this method. Further, it is expensive to maintainpersonnel around the clock for performing these duties and if additionalduties are assigned the possibility of error of observation andrecording is increased.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a devicewhich will automatically register each use of an ingot mold.

A more particular object of this invention is the provision of aregistering device which can be easily secured to an ingot mold tocontinuously register each use of the ingot mold.

Still another more particular object of this invention is the provisionof a temperature responsive registering device which will register theuse of an ingot mold by sensing the increased temperature of the wall ofthe mold each time it is used.

Yet a further more specialized object of this invention is the provisionof a device for counting the number of times an ingot mold is used whichdevice employs a bimetal strip to actuate a counter each time the ingotmold is heated by steel poured therein.

Yet another more general object of this invention is the provision of atemperature responsive device adapted to record the number of uses ofvessels for containing material at non-ambient temperatures.

A further more general object of this invention is the provision of adevice for registering the number of uses of an object which uses arecharacterized by temperature change.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent'fromthe following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the device of this inventionmounted on an ingot mold;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view partially in section of the device ofthis invention mounted on an ingot mold sidewall; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view partially in section of the deviceof this invention mounted on an ingot mold.

Referring now to the drawing, the counting mechanism of this invention,designated generally as 10, includes a counter 12 bolted to a steelbracket 14. The bracket 14 is welded to a steel face plate 16 which inturn is bolted to a steel back-up plate 18 by bolts 19. A laminatedinsulating structure for protecting the counter 12 from heat is providedbetween the face plate 16 and the back-up plate 18. The insulatingstructure includes a block of Transite (a trademark of Johns ManvilleCompany) asbestos cement 20 sandwiched between a front sheet of asbestoscloth 22 and a back sheet of asbestos cloth 24. A bi-metal strip 26 isprovided one end of which is secured to the face plate 16. The other endof the bi-metal strip 26 has an operating arm 28 extending therefromtoward the counter 12 and engageable with an operator arm 30 of thecounter. As shown in FIGURE 1, the base plate 18 is welded to theoutside wall of an ingot mold designated generally as M. In order toprotect the counter 12 from damage by material falling from the top ofthe ingot mold a roof 32 is provided which is secured to the base plate18 and extends therefrom over the counter 12. The back sheet of asbestoscloth 24 extends around onto the underside of the roof as shown inFIGURE 2 for heat insulation.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2 the face plate, back-up plate and insulationtherebetween have a cut out portion 34 adjacent the bi-metal strip sothat the bi-metal strip is exposed directly to the side of the ingotmold and thus receives heat radiations directly therefrom. The bi-metalstrip 26 is arranged so that at ambient temperature the operating arm 28just rests against the operator arm 30 of the counter, and upon heating,the bi-metal strip will flex or bend away from the side of the ingotmold. When the ingot mold is filled with molten steel the sidewallbecomes hot and the heat radiated by the sidewalls is sensed by thebi-metal strip thus causing the bi-rnetal strip to bend outwardly. Themetals for the strip are selected so that when the temperature raises aselected amount above ambient the bi-metal strip will flex sufficientlyto trip the operating arm 30 thus actuating the counter one unit. Whenthe mold has been stripped from the ingot and the mold cools, thebi-metal strip returns to its normal position and the counter cocksreadying it for the next registering of the use of the ingot mold.

Although the use of the counting device has been described inconjunction with an ingot mold it is readily apparent that itsapplication is not so limited. This counting device can be used forrecording the number of uses of any vessel when the use is characterizedby heating of the walls of the vessel. Also, by simply reversing theposition of the bi-metal strip, the counting device can be used toregister the number of uses of a vessel in which cold material such asliquid gases are stored. In this instance, the bi-metal strip would bearranged so that when the walls of the vessel become cooled the bi-metalstrip would move away from the walls of the vessel to actuate thecounter. In even broader aspects the device of this invention is adaptedto measure the number of uses of an object when the uses arecharacterized by a temperature change.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claim.

We claim:

The combination of an ingot mold and the like with temperatureresponsive means for cumulatively registering each time the mold isheated by molten steel and the like poured therein comprising:

(a) a counter with an operating arm, said counter being adapted toregister one unit upon actuation by tripping means and to cock, readyingit for the next registry, upon return of said tripping means to itsnormal position;

while exposing said temperature responsive means to direct moldradiation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBurdette Oct. 2, 1923 Sleeper May 3, 1927 Klopsteg et al May 24, 1927Lamb May 27, 1952 Nevers Feb. 12, 1963

